Cushion for carriage return levers



July 12, 1949. E. MILLER CUSHION FOR CARRIAGE RETURN LEVERS Filed July 11, 1947 EL ENG R M/ LLER INVENTOR.

Patented July 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in typewriters and more especially to the carriage return lever which must be actuated by a typist at the end of each typewritten line to return the carriage to a position for starting the next line. In prolonged periods of typing the lever is actuated a great many times by the same finger or fingers of the operator which results in the formation of calluses and also in fatigue, due principally to the fingers striking against the metallic lever.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the invention to provide new and novel means in the form of a fushion adapted to be securely attached to the striking end of the lever to cushion the same for the fingers of the operator.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is of simple, efficient, durable construction and which may be inexpensively made by any of the present day rubber-molding processes.

These and other objects will appear as my invention is more fully hereinafter described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a carriage-return lever used on typewriters, and showing my new and novel cushion attached thereto.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing.

In Figure 1 reference numeral I indicates the usual carriage return and platen rotating lever as used on typewriters. The lever is pivotally mounted as at 2 on an element of the typewriter and connected by the usual linkage 3 with the mechanism for rotating the platen one or more line spaces as the carriage is moved from one side of the machine to the other. The outermost end of the lever is turned upwardly into a curved handle as indicated at 4 for engagement by the hand or fingers of the operator.

The invention in its simplest form consists of a hollow elastic tube 5 whose inside diameter is less than that of the lever I so that it will cling to the lever when placed thereon as shown. The outermost end of the tube is closed as at 6 to bear against the top of the handle 4 as shown. As the'tube is moved forwardly in applying it to the lever, that portion of the tube embacing the handle is drawn tightly in a downward direction until one wall at the tube bears firmly against the convex side of the handle while the opposite wall extends across the concave side thereof, as best shown in Figure 2, and the space between the wall and that side of the handle allows greater yielding of the tube to provide a cushion between the hand or fingers of the operator and the handle.

The modified form of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 consists of a hollow elastic tube 5A closed at one of its ends as at 6A and drawn over the lever I in the same manner as the tube 5. On the exterior of that portion of the tube 5A that is drawn over the handle portion 4 is formed of relatively softer material such as sponge rubber, or the like, spaced apart nodules I, vulcanized or otherwise secured to the tube. In this form of the invention the cushion provided by the nodules is in addition to that provided by the stretching of the tube across the concave side of the handle as aforesaid.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described the invention, what I claim Y as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a typewriter and in combination with the line space and carriage return lever thereof, said lever having a curved handle portion, a hollow elastic tubing closed at one of its ends and drawn over the lever and said curved handle portion thereof in clinging engagement therewith, whereby the stretching of that portion of the tube across the concave side of the handle portion provides a cushion for the hand or fingers of an operator.

2. In a typewriter and in combination with the line space and carriage return lever thereof, said lever having a curved handle portion, a length of hollow elastic tubing closed at one of its ends and drawn over said curved handle portion and a portion of said lever, and that portion of said tubing embracing said handle portion having formed on its outer surface a plurality of nodules adjacent the concave side of the handle portion.

ELENOR. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Redfern et a1. May 1, 1923 Number 

